y. Since
the memorable morning in Berkeley Square when she accepted his offer
of marriage, he had seen nothing so fascinating--nor, let us add, so
fleeting--as this gleam of enchantment. Very few days had sufficed to
show him how much this meteor flash of loveliness had cost him; and now,
as he sat conning over a long line of figures, he bethought him that
the second moment of witchery was very nearly as expensive as the first.
When he made her that courteous offer of extending the limits of her
civil list he had never contemplated how far she could have pushed
his generosity, and now, to his amazement, he discovered that in a
few months she had already drawn for seven thousand pounds, and had
intimated to the house that the first instalment of the purchase money
of a villa would probably be required some time early in May; the
business-like character of this "advice" being, however, sadly
disparaged by her having totally forgotten to say anything as to the
amount of the impending demand.

It was in a very unlucky moment--was there ever a lucky one?--when these
heavy demands presented themselves. Colonel Bramleigh had latterly
taken to what he thought, or at least meant to be, retrenchment. He was
determined, as he said himself, to "take the bull by the horns;" but
the men who perform this feat usually select a very small bull. He had
nibbled, as it were, at the hem of the budget; he had cut down "the
boys'" allowances. "What could Temple want with five hundred a year? Her
Majesty gave him four, and her Majesty certainly never intended to
take his services without fitting remuneration. As to Jack having three
hundred, it was downright absurdity: it was extravagances like these
destroyed the navy; besides, Jack had got his promotion, and his pay
ought to be something handsome." With regard to Augustus, he only went
so far as certain remonstrances about horse keep and some hints about
the iniquities of a German valet who, it was rumored, had actually
bought a house in Duke Street, St. James's, out of his peculations in
the family.

The girls were not extravagantly provided for, but for example's sake he
reduced their allowance by one-third.

Ireland was not a country for embroidered silks or Genoa velvet. It
would be an admirable lesson to others if they were to see the young
ladies of the great house dressed simply and unpretentiously. "These
things could only be done by people of station. Such examples must
proceed